The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers, on November 26th 2006, Disco Inferno left Las Palmas, Gran Canaria to cross the Atlantic Ocean to St Lucia in the Caribbean. Below are our daily logs, written by Lizzie, the chef onboard, that are posted on the World Cruising website

Day One

Boat Position - 26 06.33N 017 19.28W
Wind Speed - 15.5knots
Wind Direction - 077
Boat Speed - 7.8knots
Sail Config - Full mainsail & poled out No.2 genoa
Weather – Cloudy & drizzle
Boat Time - 11.39am

The first 24 hours have flown past. Leaving Las Palmas was a wonderful thing, the sun was shining and the breeze was perfect. We put the spinnaker up once we were clear of most of the fleet and carried that until just before 6pm, when it tore and wrapped itself round the forestay!

Through the night we sailed under white sails. At 10am we went to put the spinnaker back up again and I obviously missed a hole as it was spotted before the sock was at the top, down it came and back up went the jib. After lunch I’ll get the tape back out and try and fix it again.

It’s drizzling at the moment but its still warm and the boys all seem happy sitting in it, chatting away outside.

Well it’s almost time to start preparing lunch, so I better get on.

Day Two

Boat Position - 23 55.95N  019 22.18W
Wind Speed - 16.5knots
Wind Direction - 056
Boat Speed – 8.5knots
Heading – 220
Sail Config - Full mainsail & poled out No.2 genoa
Weather – SUNNY
Boat Time - 9.43am
Miles to go – 2432

The last 24 hours have been beautiful.  The drizzle stopped yesterday early afternoon and we enjoyed a pleasant evening and this morning I woke to sunshine.

Yesterday, Drew was my helper and unfortunately he didn’t get to eat the lunch he helped prepare as he started to feel a little queasy.  He stayed up all afternoon and at 6pm we sent him to bed with a couple of anti-sickness pills.  He looks much better this morning, listening to his walkman, sitting in the sunshine.

We got to see our first pod of dolphins yesterday, they came flying through the air and straight past the boat, we think they must have been hunting.

This morning Julian has made bread, it is rising under the spray hood as I write, looking forward to eating that for lunch.

Alastair and I managed to tape up the rips in the spinnaker, but we now have no tape left, so hope we don’t rip it again.

Think I might go and enjoy the sunshine.

Day Three

Boat Position - 22 04.01N  021 48.57W
Wind Speed - 8.0knots
Wind Direction - 100
Boat Speed – 6.2knots
Heading – 220
Sail Config - Full mainsail & spinnaker
Weather – SUNNY
Boat Time - 11.02am
Miles to go – 2283

Anther glorious morning on Disco, the breeze is a lot lighter today so the repaired spinnaker is back up and doing a good job at keeping us moving.

We were visited by another pod of dolphins just before sunset yesterday. There are no more yachts on the horizon so today is our first day all alone.

James has been busy taking his sightings with his sextant and that seems to occupy a good half hour, twice a day.

Alastair taught us how to free ourselves of a clam in case we ever get our hand stuck in one!

I invited everyone to my birthday tea party on Friday, and they all said they could make it.

Day 4

Boat Position - 19 28.49N  022 51.32W
Wind Speed - 16.8knots
Wind Direction - 038
Boat Speed – 8.7knots
Heading – 249
Sail Config - Full mainsail & poled out genoa
Weather – VERY SUNNY
Boat Time - 11.14am
Miles to go – 2217

All is well on Disco this morning, the fishing line is out, the bread is in the oven and the kettle is on for tea. We've definitely settled in nicely.

We've had a busy 24 hours, starting with the auto pilot turning itself off on Alastair's watch. Luckily not causing any problems and then staying on the rest of the night.

James had a suicidal flying fish that he chased round the cockpit.

Drew had the spinnaker give up the fight for living and at 3.15am this morning a wet spinnaker landed on my bunk, the wind was constant over 10knots and we put the genoa back up, at which point we then had to duck a boat on starboard gybe! Couldn't spot his ARC number though.

The breeze has slowly built all morning and we now have an average wind speed of about 15knots. And to add to all this excitement we gybed at 10am this morning.

Drew is keen to win the bronzed god award and was a spectacular shade of red yesterday. We have also heard that Musto is misbehaving while his Master is away!

James has been busy studying the planets so he can answer our nightly questions on what planet it is we can see over dinner.

And Julian is just happy drinking as many cups of tea as humanly possible.

At 4pm yesterday, I asked who wanted tea and fresh chocolate chip muffins, to which the response was 'Liz, I love you!' these boys are soooooo easy!

Day Five

Boat Position - 18 12.79N  025 30.71W
Wind Speed - 15.5knots
Wind Direction - 055
Boat Speed – 7.7knots
Heading – 269
Sail Config - Full mainsail & poled out genoa
Weather – VERY SUNNY
Boat Time - 10.52am (UTC)
Miles to go – 2058

Today is my 30th Birthday, we started the day with scrambled eggs on toast, then the postman came and delivered me Jamie Oliver's latest Cookbook, a subscription to Good Food magazine, a clutch bag and a handful of cards.

Alastair has made the bread for lunch and its fair to say, move over Julian, the king of bread making has been discovered!

Yesterday we caught our first fish. It was with Drew's lure but he only gets a half point in the competition as she was a small dorado & we threw her back, we couldn’t have even had a sushi snack on her. However this does now put Drew as leader in the fishing competition.

Julian refused his first cup of tea yesterday but has had at least 4 this morning so nothing to worry about.

On Tuesday there was an excise regime discussed, it should have come into action on Wednesday and I believe that only yesterday, Thursday, did Julian start the ball rolling by doing a few stretches! I have heard the words sit ups mentioned again this morning but I feel only to work their mouth muscles rather than anything else.

Better go prepare for my afternoon tea party & dinner feast.

Day Six

Boat Position - 17 27.62N  028 48.54W
Wind Speed - 20.2knots
Wind Direction - 080
Boat Speed – 9.6knots
Heading – 283
Sail Config - Full mainsail & poled out genoa
Weather – sunny with clouds
Boat Time - 10.54am (UTC)
Miles to go – 1868

There are a few clouds in the sky today, the swell has picked up and the wind has built steadily over night, we're flying along. Matt holds the yellow jersey this morning reaching 11.3 knots with James in 2nd with 11 knots.

Yesterday, my birthday lunch of BLTs with homemade bread and English bacon went down very well. We then blew up the balloons and tied them to the spray hood and backstay. We opted for tea to drink for our afternoon tea party, my birthday cake was scrumptious. Then the boys presented me with a present, it was the tackiest egg time they could find, they say my face was priceless, then I received another which was a hot pink fishing lure so I can enter the fishing competition, then a Pirates of the Caribbean Calendar, which fits into our 'Do we have a drill for Pirates?' chat, and a bag of smellies, which I shall look forward to using in St Lucia and when we get a bath onboard! (photo attached of afternoon tea party)

We then had a dinner party that started with Champagne cocktails, that went down incredibly fast, followed by filet steak, roast potatoes, carrots, leeks & a cheese sauce, mmmmmmmmmm. The boys then got sweetie bags to take home with them!

Now, the guys are a little concerned that my logs might sound like they're having a good time so they've asked me to reassure you that its awful, freeze dried food, 2 hours sleep a night and the crew are just terrible!

Drew is back in the galley as my helper today, we'll test out his newly found sea legs at lunch time.

Day Seven

Boat Position - 17 22.73N  032 23.96W
Wind Speed - 19.8knots
Wind Direction - 084
Boat Speed – 8.8knots
Heading – 290
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – sunny with clouds
Boat Time - 11.38am (UTC)
Miles to go – 1662

It's fair to say that we have rolled our way through the night, everything that could roll did roll, luckily the swell seems to be getting a little smaller and as Drew described it this morning, "its not like the rollercoaster ride last night!"

Having been so pleased with our speed yesterday morning, about 2pm James spotted a small rip in the No.2 genoa, and it was all hands on deck to get it down quickly and get the No.4 up instead. We did see our boat speed drop but we have managed to stay over 8knots most of the time.

Julian holds the yellow jersey from yesterday with a top speed of 11.4knots.

This morning I cooked bacon & egg sandwiches, which didn't do much for my sea legs, so Julian finished the job for me while James and I sat on deck and watched the sun rise. We had a few cups of tea and I'm feeling fine again.

Day Eight

Boat Position - 17 23.21N  035 51.27W
Wind Speed - 19.7knots
Wind Direction - 099
Boat Speed – 8.2knots
Heading – 290
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Overcast
Boat Time - 11.29am (-1 UTC)
Miles to go – 1464

This morning is overcast, with slight breaks in the cloud, I think everyone is enjoying a break from the sunshine. 2 squalls have managed to miss us this morning, but we've seen the wind pick up to 27knots as we're passed across the edge of them.

Yesterday we moved the clocks back an hour, which meant that Matt & Drew got to do an extra hour in the heat of the day yesterday. Drew looks a little lost today with the absence of the sun, he's got to find something else to do other than sunbath.

Last night we had roast pork for dinner which definitely hit the spot, there was complete silence in the cockpit while we ate.

James has made bread this morning and that went into the oven looking the best yet, currently Alastair is winning.

Drew has won guessing our mileage each day for the last 4 days, I think we might stop including him soon!

Alastair saw a fin in the night, he thinks it was a shark. Then a few moments later he got attacked by a flying fish which completely frightened him and when he saw the fin again he moved further into the cockpit!

This morning we collected 4 dead flying fish on the foredeck, we seem to be having a lot more luck with these than our fishing line. This morning we put Hot Pink out and unfortunately she didn't come back. I then put out our old faithful Glittery Blue but I just pulled her back in as Matt said I'd have to gut it myself if it was my lure!

Not far off half way! Yippee

Day Nine

Boat Position - 17 25.38N  039 12.22W
Wind Speed - 22.1knots
Wind Direction - 089
Boat Speed – 9.4knots
Heading – 288
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Overcast
Boat Time - 10.32am (-1 UTC)
Miles to go – 1278

Another overcast day on Disco. Last night was a full moon, so the boys were on witch alert all night. We also passed the half way point, which saw Alastair throw his 'message in a bottle' into the ocean. I have yet to hear about the ceremony, which was, over dinner last night, going to involve him and James dressed as Nuns running round the deck.

Today is Drew's fishing day but he hasn't put his lure out yet so maybe he won't win this one! He is currently a great shade of pink having caught the sun through the cloud yesterday, he has a nice arm print across his chest.

James is now winning the bread making contest, his loaf yesterday was the bees knees.

As I write, the guys are putting a gybe in to bring us back south onto our course to St Lucia.

There is lots of rain in the air but we seem to be missing it all and have yet to have a serious downpour, I'm sure our time will come.

Burgers & chips for lunch today.

Day Ten

Boat Position - 16 24.60N  042 44.94W
Wind Speed - 19.3knots
Wind Direction - 110
Boat Speed – 7.7knots
Heading – 270
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Hot & Sunny
Boat Time - 10.49am (-1 UTC)
Miles to go – 1066

After we gybed yesterday morning, within an hour the sun was out and we were graced with a glorious afternoon, it clouded over again last night and we had rain, by 10am it was back to clear blue skies and plenty of sun.

Yesterday afternoon, while playing the camping game, lead by Andrew. I spotted a yacht on the horizon, we talked about calling him up, but he beat us to it and it was the German boat Seeandler, ARC boat 132, we had a brief chat, they have only ripped one spinnaker so were thrilled to hear we had torn two, they then said they'd be waiting on the dock for us in St Lucia!! So we got the guns out and shot at them!

We can't believe that someone hit a whale, we've been desperately searching for one as Alastair's daughters want him to see one.

Today I've made ciabatta bread, which looks successful, will have to put it to the taste committee at lunch to see what they think.

Le Sandwich American (steak hache & chips) went down very well yesterday lunchtime, as did the beef stirfry for dinner followed by treacle pudding and custard. Its fair to say we havan't been dieting out here.

We learnt about giant squid & sea snakes yesterday, did you know the largest recorded length of an earth worm is 3.6m?

Day Eleven (Day of the Grandpa!)

Boat Position - 15 11.78N  045 40.42W
Wind Speed - 23.4knots
Wind Direction - 102
Boat Speed – 9.1knots
Heading – 263
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Cloudy with sunny spells
Boat Time - 10.18am (-1 UTC)
Miles to go – 889

Under 1000 miles to go. We've had a great 24hours out here. We had a yacht most of yesterday afternoon on the horizon behind us, hopefully it was Seeandler!

Last night we saw a cruise ship, so we thought we'd call them up, after a chat they invited us onboard and sent a rib over to pick us up, they put one of their staff onboard Disco with George and gave the guys dinner jackets and off we went for dinner on the Captain's Table, we went dancing and to finish the night off we went to the Casino, were we made Drew gamble, and he won several thousand dollars, he does deserve his nickname Lucky! Then it was back to Disco and into the watch system for what was left of the night.

Julian (Grandpa) this morning snatched the yellow (lime Green actually) jersey back from Matt with a new top speed of 13.1knots and guessed the daily run exactly winning the coveted double. It will keep Drew busy all afternoon trying to beat him.

Drew, of course, won yesterday's how many miles have we covered and we have all now put in our guess' for what time we will cross the finish line next week. Of course we know that Drew will win that too.

We've run out of food so today we're deciding who we will eat first.

Day Twelve

Boat Position - 14 37.66N  049 09.80W
Wind Speed - 25.7knots
Wind Direction - 096
Boat Speed – 9.8knots
Heading – 294
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Cloudy with sunny spells
Boat Time - 9.348am (-2 UTC)
Miles to go – 689

We are eating the miles up and the guys are even starting to plan what they are going to do when they get to St Lucia.

We saw another yacht in the night, he passed our bow at around 7am, he wasn't an ARC boat, in fact we don't even think there was anyone on watch!

The wind has been constant all night and we've seen over 30knots already this morning, its giving everyone a good arm workout on the wheel.

It was another rolling night with everyone clinging on to their mattresses, just like when Julian drives!!

Its very quiet this morning with Alastair, Drew & Matt all in bed, Julian making bread and James on watch. Come 10am it will be over and we'll have non-stop chatter & laughter until dusk.

No UFOs reported in the night.

Day Thirteen

Boat Position - 14 45.60N  052 35.51W
Wind Speed - 18.5knots
Wind Direction - 094
Boat Speed – 8.9knots
Heading – 303
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Sunny with clouds
Boat Time - 9.49am (-2 UTC)
Miles to go – 493

We cheered last night after dinner as we watched the chart plotter drop to 600miles to go, then when I got up this morning it was under 500 miles to go.

We've started to hear a few boats on the radio but haven't seen any for 48hours.

The swell has died down a little and so has the wind but we are all still being occasionally flung across the boat when we're not expecting it. Tea spillage does seem to have dropped slightly as well.

We're about to crack into our last 400 tea bags, I hope they'll get us there.

We've enjoyed receiving news from home the last few days, nice to know that the World still exists.

Day Fourteen

Boat Position - 15 26.26N  055 49.39W
Wind Speed - 19.9knots
Wind Direction - 118
Boat Speed – 8.6knots
Heading – 279
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Sunny
Boat Time - 9.44am (-2 UTC)
Miles to go – 307

SSDD....

Its been a slow 24hours out here, the wind has dropped off and we didn't manage our 200miles in 24hours.

So to make things more exciting we had bacon & egg sandwiches for breakfast, put in a gybe, we saw 2 different types of birds and 2 yachts!

I think Julian is going to attempt to drink all the tea we have left, already had 4 this morning and I'm sure he won't refuse a 5th when I offer in a few minutes.

We're over the whole arrival thing now so maybe we'll just keep on going!!

Day Fifteen

Boat Position - 15 02.56N  058 45.36W
Wind Speed - 20.7knots
Wind Direction - 097
Boat Speed – 8.5knots
Heading – 288
Sail Config - Mainsail with 1 reef in & poled out No.4 genoa
Weather – Sunny
Boat Time - 9.15am (-2 UTC)
Miles to go – 144

Did we just see the last sunrise of the trip???

As Alistair predicted over breakfast yesterday morning "Today is going to be a great day" About noon, we heard a girlie squeal (this came from Alastair) "Look a whale" Unfortunately then he was gone but again about 30minutes later came another more manly shout from James "Whale" As he appeared next to the boat, then he was gone, no time for a photo. Finally we saw one.

We saw a ship at dinner time, and 2 yachts last night. We even heard someone calling the ARC finish!

Last night was probably the hottest night we've had so far but the breeze did drop off yesterday afternoon and we occasionally only saw 12 knots of wind. This morning it seems to be filling back in and maybe we'll make Rodney Bay before sunrise tomorrow.

I can't believe its nearly all over.

Day Sixteen

At 03:02am on Tuesday 12/12 Disco Inferno crossed the finish line.

The last 24hours seemed to pass very slowly, again in the afternoon we saw the breeze die down a little and the speed drop. As dusk drew in we were 60miles out and still no sign of land. The wind then duly picked up and I was woken about 2am as we had 6 miles to go and I was on tea duty.

The VHF had been busy for the last 2 hours with lots of boats finishing. We had hit rush hour!

There was one incident that we didn't mention. Late Thursday afternoon we came under the attack of witches, the attack was successful and next thing we knew we had a rip in the mainsail a metre long. We kept this a secret so our competition were not aware of our weakness as it meant we were forced to sail the last 1000miles with a reefed mainsail. This coupled with the hole in the genoa forcing us to use the No4 definitely slowed our speed down but we think we held onto our position quite well and battled through until the end.

We arrived in the marina about 3.30am and after tying up we cracked open a Magnum of bubbly and the St Lucian Tourist Board came over to welcome us and produced the rum punch. I think I snuck off to bed around 6am for an hour before showering and then going for breakfast but the boys drank through finishing everything they had been given.

After breakfast we spent a few hours cleaning Disco and restoring her to her normal beauty, then the guys went and checked into their hotel "Air-conditioned Heaven". We met for sundowners last night on the beach and we had our Disco Prize Giving.

The Fishing competition was won by Drew
The Best Beard competition was won by James
The Best Bread was won by Alastair
The Lime Green Jersey was won by Julian (Grandpa)

We then went to the Charthouse for steak and ribs and laughed about some of the great moments we shared. It was the best crossing yet, our fastest on Disco and to quote Alastair 'its all because of the crew'.

Disco is heading up to Antigua for Christmas and will stay in the Caribbean until May. We are racing at the Heineken Regatta, St Martin & Antigua Sailing Week with berths available for groups and individuals. Or if you'd like to watch the England Cricket Team play in the World Cup Cricket in the West Indies we still have cruising charters available, dates are here on the website.

Hope you've enjoyed Disco's latest Adventure and hope to see you all soon